Youth Scholarships

Link to download the 2019 Youth Scholarship Application will be here when available – applications will be due mid-April 2019 (date to be determined).

Each year, we award Youth Scholarships for the cost of tuition and housing in any of our programs to a number of promising young musicians and dancers. Several of these scholarships are memorial scholarships awarded during Celtic Week in memory of Tony Cuffe, and Regis Malady, during Old-Time Week in memory of Ralph Blizard, and during Contemporary Folk/Fiddle or Traditional Song Weeks in memory of Freyda Epstein, our dear friends and long-time staff members.

Applicants should be under the age of 22 and should submit by April 13 a completed application, a self-written letter of request for the specific week desired, giving background and contact information, including the applicant’s age, prior musical experience and stating why (s)he should receive a scholarship, plus a letter of recommendation from a mentor or other individual knowledgeable in the applicant’s area of folk music or dance. Please do not send recordings. Priority will be given to those who have not received a scholarship before. An application fee is not required. Scholarships are merit-based, limited and competitive. Please send your application to: The Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, PO Box 9000, Asheville, NC 28815-9000 or fax it to: 828-298-3434

The Doug & Darcy Orr Music Fund is an endowment fund established to provide long-term financial support for the work of the Swannanoa Gathering now, and for decades to come. Originally established with a generous gift from one of our workshop participants, interest from the fund provides financial support for the program where it is most needed. Tax-free contributions to to the Doug & Darcy Orr Music Fund and/or for our Youth Scholarship fund are welcome and may be made online on the donation form.

A number of our scholarships are sponsored by private organizations or individuals. Are you interested in sponsoring a scholarship? Please contact our office for more information.